TRIBUTES TO TOM FENWICK

Tom Fenwick, former Commissioner of Water Resources, passed away on 20th April, 2020. Tom was Commissioner from 1986 until 1991 when he became Deputy Director General of the Department of Primary Industries. All Members remember Tom with great reverence.

Our Newsletter Editor has prepared an Obituary for Tom Fenwick.

This page is for tributes from Members.

The following response has been received from Matt Fenwick, Tom's son, on behalf of the family: I am writing to thank you for making the resources of the Association available to past colleagues of Dad, for them to record their memories and reminiscences. I know that it has been very comforting for Tom's immediate and extended family, to read so many kind words, and reflect anew on the many great achievements of the Queensland Water Resources community of which he was a part.

Name: Carol Davison
Position: Administrative Officer Executive Services Group
Year: 1989
Association: Administrative Duties

Tribute: Tom Fenwick was a highly respected, gentle man who was an exceptional leader. His work ethic was exemplary to all who had the privilege of working with him. Despite his high profile, he always treated everyone equally. Tom held the Water Resources "Oldies" in high regard, and I felt honoured when asked to type up and distribute the Water Resources Retirees Association's Monthly Newsletters (pre-Word processing days!) as part of my duties back in 1989. Tom's passing is a very sad loss.

Because Tom was so well respected, and very well known in the Association, I wondered if there was a way we (WRRA Officers) could perhaps share and send our condolences / tributes to his family, by way of a digital book of Tributes from the people Tom worked with. Sending sincere condolences to Tom's family; may these shared memories help sustain you in your time of grief.

Name: Peter Gilbey
Position: Regional Manager, North Queensland
Year: 1990/91
Association: Worked closely with Tom on the development of water resources in North Queensland.

Tribute: I first met Tom when he came up to the Burdekin to Chair the Burdekin Irrigation Project Committee in the mid 1980s.

Tom had earlier led the study on "Resources and Potential of the Burdekin River Basin" which provided the basis for the decision to build the Burdekin Falls Dam and the Burdekin River Irrigation Area which irrigates over 40,000 hectares and underpins water supply to the Burdekin Delta as well as the urban centre of Townsville.

Tom assisted by Tim Smith provided timely advice on the direction of the irrigation project including the vital decision not to proceed with development on the south eastern or the right bank side of the Burdekin River when it became evident the management of salinity throughout much of the area was problematic.

This decision was not universally popular and I still recall the words of Tom's predecessor Don Beattie (who had witnessed the impact of major Burdekin River flooding in 1958) who said to Tom when told of the decision to focus development on the left bank: "Well Tom you are the one who will have to live with that decision, so be it".

Despite a number of serious flood events in the Burdekin River Irrigation Area over the past 35 years since that time, Tom has now passed on without having cause to regret his decision.

One of the proudest moments for those involved in the development in subsequent years was the naming of the Tom Fenwick pumpstation which supplies the left bank, by then Minister for Primary Industries, Ed Casey, the pump station stands as one of the most evident benefits of Value Engineering which Tom sponsored to get Engineers in the Department to look at things differently and not be restricted by "mind forged manacles".

There are so many stories of Tom's support and the benefits provided to folk in Regional Queensland during his years as Engineer, Commissioner and ultimately Director General and I trust others will contribute to the narrative to record his achievements for posterity. Personally, I found Tom's support unwavering during my time in North Queensland and though he went on to run a much bigger department he was never too busy to stop and have a word and enquire as to how you were going. He was a true leader of men with a common touch which enabled him to relate to all he knew.

Name: Jon Henry
Position: Executive Engineer Surface Water Hydrology
Year: 1984
Association: Contributed hydrological advice to Tom for the planning of the development of the Burdekin based on Urannah Dam and later the Burdekin Falls Dam.

Tribute: Tom was a true statesman. He could listen to, and respond appropriately to, advice from all. He drew the best out of the staff. I can still recall the motivation I always gained from a chat with Tom.

Name: Ian Pullar
Position: Various
Year: NNNN
Association: Three main episodes as detailed below.

Tribute: My first contact with Tom Fenwick occurred when I went to board at Brisbane Grammar: Tom's brother John and I were both in Sub-Junior while Tom was in Senior. When I graduated as an engineer and joined the Irrigation and Water Supply Commission, one of the first people I came into contact with was Tom who was extremely welcoming and encouraging.

Tom was obviously a man of outstanding talent and clearly destined for high office (once he returned from his brief excursion to the private sector). He rose up the ranks, including a posting as Senior Engineer Special Projects, and it came as no surprise when he succeeded Don Beattie as Commissioner.

I had limited direct contact with Tom (apart from our mutual membership of a lunch break bridge playing group), but there were three activities in which we came together. The first was his enthusiastic support of a series of Value Engineering studies for which I was fortunate to be appointed facilitator. Incidentally, it was these studies that initiated the move to rename the Haughton Pump Station in the Burdekin the Tom Fenwick Pump Station.

The second activity took place in 1990 when the new government initiated studies to identify future sources of water supply for south-east Queensland and I volunteered to handle the public interface of the investigations which involved 32 dam sites and lots of potentially affected landholders. Tom was extremely supportive and gave me a remarkable degree of free rope (I don't think intending me to hang myself).

The third activity was his sponsorship of the People's History of the Water Resources Commission, Watery Sauces, which I co-wrote with my daughter Margaret Cook. He even managed to find the time to be one of the readers of the 480 page final draft. As I wrote in the People's History, "Tom was a big man (literally and figuratively) of enormous vision who survived three changes of government and coped with the complexities of continual change. According to Peter Bevin, Bill (Sharp) made a prediction that Fred would be outdone by Tom as a Commissioner, that Tom would be the best. At the time I thought Fred's would be a difficult act to follow. It's difficult to compare them across different times and issues, but I think Tom was certainly equal, if not better - and that's a big statement!"

Still later, I had the pleasure of Tom's company while he served with me on the management committee of the Water Resources Retirees Association. It has certainly been a privilege to know and work with such an outstanding man and important contributor to the water industry.

Name: Gary Corbett
Position: Supervising Draftsman Irrigation Area Design
Year: 1985-1988
Association: Commission employee

Tribute: My recollections of Tom come from a rank-and-file perspective in the Irrigation Area Design drafting office in Brisbane in the 1980s. You did not have to work with Tom directly to see his ability to connect with everyone, both personally and professionally - it was a measure of the man and almost without exception he knew everyone in the organisation by their first name, quite a feat considering there must have been countless to remember. He respected staff and took a genuine interest in what they were doing, as well as their welfare, something which staff don't forget - in return, this respect was reciprocated and is still fresh in people's minds as they reflect on what Tom meant to them. Tom is sadly missed by all those who knew him.

Name: James Purtill
Position: Director-General Queensland Environmental Protection Agency
Year: 2001
Association: Mentored by Tom

Tribute: I first knew Tom when I came into government from the private sector in 1999. In 2001 I became Director-General of the (then) Queensland Environmental Protection Agency. By then Tom was a Director of SEQWater I think. I was only 37 and he agreed to be my mentor as I tried to "fast track" what being a Director-General was all about. We met monthly for lunch at the Brekkie Creek Hotel and he passed on his wealth of knowledge about navigating the hazardous waters of government!

Vale Tom.

Name: Mike Merrin
Position: Draftsman Central Queensland Regional Office
Year: 1979
Association: Mentored by Tom

Tribute: Over the course of my career with WRC, the majority of which was spent in the regions, the only one-on-one session I can recall with Tom Fenwick occurred in 1979 when I was a humble draftsman in the Central Queensland Regional Office in Rockhampton.

At that time, I applied for financial assistance to undertake a degree in regional planning by external study through UNE in Armidale. During what was then a rare trip to Brisbane, I had an appointment with Tom, who, in his capacity as Senior Engineer, Special Projects, was apparently responsible for approving such things. I don't know whether this was for all such applications, or simply due to the fact that he indicated that my course of study was in his words, something out of left field for the Commission at that time.

In the course of the interview, or more correctly, the discussion that ensued, it started to dawn on me that Tom was a man for the future with a far wider perspective on the development and management of the state's water resources than I had been exposed to up until that time, encapsulating not only the engineering and economic, but also the broader social and environmental aspects of an agenda that was yet to emerge.

Following that session, I was not surprised when my application was approved and I got on with my life and further study. Then, in 1990, I was transferred to the far north to run the Johnstone River Catchment Pilot Study under the new Goss government's ICM program, which turned out to be the most interesting and rewarding period of my career. It was there that it really crystallised in my mind that this was what Tom Fenwick was talking about back in 1979, at a time when words like sustainable were yet to be seen in the broader lexicon. By this time, Tom had justifiably progressed to the peak of his career, but he has always remained to me as that futurist and mentor I saw in 1979, something I have and will always remain grateful for.

Name: Garry Grant
Position: Technical Services Manager then Commercial Manager SEQWater
Year: Early 2000s
Association: Board Member/Executive Team member SEQWater

Tribute: I first came across Tom when I came back from my 3 years on the construction of Awoonga Dam in the mid-80s. My desk was outside Mal Pegg's office and this rather youthful (early 40s) imposing guy used to bound into Mal's office on many occasions. It turned out they were discussing capital works budgets. I asked someone who he was and I was told that he was Tom Fenwick and he was a man on the way up.

My strong interactions with Tom were when he was a Director of SEQWater and I was the Technical Services Manager then the Commercial Manager. Tom provided lots of sage advice during the conceptualisation of the scheme that is now the SEQ Water Grid and the way to market it to the various customer local governments' Mayors and CEOs. He did so with humour and many side stories.

Tom was a smart guy and a good man.

Name: Col Hazel
Position: Principal Engineer Assessment
Year: 1995
Association: Went through university with Tom as Commission scholarship holder and continued career in Commission

Tribute: Tom and I were in the same year at university and together with Charlie Chalmers and Robin Black, were the scholarship holders with the Irrigation and Water Supply Commission for that year. As I recall Tom was President of the Engineering Undergraduate Society.

While I remained in contact with Tom during our early years at the Commission I never worked closely with him then. He was mainly involved with planning and construction while I was heavily involved in water resources investigation and assessment.

In later years as I did work more closely with him I noticed that he had an extraordinary ability to cut through any extraneous matter and get to the heart of the subject being discussed. Not only that, but he was able to bring all parties in the discussion together to discuss what was relevant. He was also politically astute and was highly regarded by both major religions in the State; Labor and LNP.

The one major project that I did work on with him was the Rehabilitation of the Uncontrollable Bores in the Great Artesian Basin. Tom and the Minister accompanied me on a trip to North West Queensland in 1988 as we introduced the Scheme to the Councils and grazing community.

Tom was an amazing engineer, leader and administrator and, up until the time when he was appointed Commissioner, was a very important member of our lunch time bridge club.

Farewell Tom. You left our State a better place than when you came. You will be missed.

Name: Peter Bevin
Position: Deputy Commissioner/Commissioner/Deputy Director General (last Commissioner of Water Resources)
Year: 1986-1998
Association: Worked with Tom at departmental executive level

Tribute: I transferred from Bundaberg to Head Office in 1980 after nearly 20 years in construction and planning/design of major irrigation schemes coupled with regional management duties. Tom was appointed Commissioner in 1986 and I became the Deputy Commissioner. Though our positions changed a few times over the next 12 years before I retired, I had the pleasure of working very closely with Tom for an extensive period.

I use the word "pleasure" deliberately because that sums up my experience of working with him. The many departmental changes we seem to have had in that time brought up challenges for systems, staff and organisational culture but Tom always had a very clear vision and understanding of our primary purpose. So much so that I found working with Tom was very satisfying even though there were many rapids to cross getting to the other side of the stream.

Ian Pullar's words in his book on the history of the Commission bear repeating: "Tom was a big man (literally and figuratively) of enormous vision who survived three changes of government and coped with the complexities of continual change". Very true, indeed.

I see many comments in these Tributes mentioning Tom's fine qualities and I will simply endorse them as being true from my own experience.

I now look back and treasure the times after we had both retired and regularly had a catch up cup of coffee in Aspley and reflected on the past and discussed the future.

Farewell, Tom - a true friend.

Name: John Palmer
Position: Regional Manager Western Region
Year: 1984-1992
Association: As below

Tribute: Tom as Commissioner was also Chairman of the Mt Isa Area Water Board which supplies bulk water from Lake Moondarra and Julius Dam to Mt Isa City Council and Mt Isa Mines. He asked me to attend Board meetings with him and, on a couple of occasions, had me sit in for him as Chair. For me, this involved a 6 hour each way drive from Longreach to meet him off the plane and an occasional overnight stay with him if flights back to Brisbane were not available. These brief times I spent with him showed what a great a leader he was. He always asked after the wellbeing of staff and families in the remote region.

On another occasion, I got a call from Tom asking if I could arrange a trip through the south west of the State for him and his son. I met him in Charleville and we drove through to Birdsville and on to Boulia and Winton over 3 days. I was able to show him some of the features of the Great Artesian Basin in that part of the State and have him meet some locals.

I was very appreciative of these times with Tom and the opportunity he provided to hear about the work being done by staff in the region. To me, he was an outstanding leader who was always very approachable and showed true caring for all.

Name: Lee Rogers
Position: General Manager
Year: 1989 onwards
Association: Member of Tom's management team

Tribute: To me, Tom was a great leader and a good friend.

Tom's leadership ability was apparent from early on - particularly when Don Beattie appointed Tom as Senior Engineer, Special Projects where he played a lead role in the establishment of the Burdekin irrigation project. It was not a surprise when Tom was appointed Commissioner succeeding Don Beattie in 1986. He was ready and off and running.

Tom foresaw that more difficult times were coming and was probably better prepared than most to respond to the changes of government, priorities, ministers, declining budgets and the redundancy programs that were to be a feature of the years ahead.

The merger of the Commission and Forestry into Primary Industries in 1989 was difficult but thankfully after a short period, Tom became our Director General. Again, we were relieved when Tom emerged as the Director General of the new Department of Natural Resources after the change of government in 1996 and continued after the change of government in 1998.

Tom had more challenges coming including the national water reform agenda and major changes to the department followed leading to the formation of SunWater.

Through all this, Tom sought to treat all staff sympathetically and fairly.

It was a particular privilege for me every few weeks to be invited up to Tom's office after work. We would enjoy a fine drop and mull over the days trials and tribulations.

After Tom's retirement, our friendship continued with numerous lunches over the years with the Eastgates and Van Schagens and our wives. Despite Tom's declining health in recent years, we always enjoyed the lunch and the conversation and looked forward to the next lunch.

Sadly Tom is now gone but will never be forgotten.

Tribute: I first came across Tom Fenwick in 1975 when as a very junior engineer in Townsville I was asked to carry out some preliminary damsite investigations in the upper Burdekin. Tom was in Project Planning Branch in those days & my reports ultimately flowed through to him.

I was fortunate enough to encounter Tom on many occasions in my career as I transferred to many parts of the state & took up different positions, ultimately culminating in being responsible for the Regional Areas of the State & reporting directly to Tom.

He had many qualities that one person has trouble storing in one mind & body, & I would like to mention a few. The first was that he could operate at any level. By that I mean he was just as comfortable talking to a labourer as he was to the Minister. I often recall meetings with Tom, Russ Hinze & myself when Russ's sand & gravel operation needed a bit of guidance. Tom was firm in his intent & was able to end up with an outcome which suited everyone. It was interesting seeing those two big blokes resolving an issue.

When he visited the Regions Tom always made himself available to all levels of staff both to discuss work issues as well as take the time to socialise & give anyone the opportunity to raise matters of concern. He also tried to take time with local Mayors & Industry leaders who revelled with the opportunity to touch base with him.

The second quality I thought outstanding was his strategic understanding. He must have read a lot as he knew where water issues were heading in the US & Canada as well as other parts of the world. He knew what we would be facing whether we liked it or not & prepared us as best he could to cope with the changes. Privatisation, changing the approach to risk with allocations, introduction of buying, selling or trading water were all massive changes which held significant challenges for us & he was the bloke to lead us through the change process.

The third quality was his decisiveness. He had the ability to grasp a situation so quickly & to make a ruling without much hesitation. I always thought he abided by the saying" The worst decision you can make is no decision." Tom's direct support will tell you that nothing sat on his desk for too long.

Though there are many more, the last quality I will mention is integrity. We all have to play on some sticky wickets at times but never once did Tom lose his wicket by not facing up correctly. He gave tremendous support to his staff & ran a clean ship& when satisfied, delegated decision making as far down the line as was reasonable.

Our work association was at a distance but always work focused unless there was some time for social interaction. I received a letter from Tom on his retirement which I will always remember as it expressed a true level of commitment & harmony.

I often reflect on my association with Tom & see a person I admired greatly, a person who studied & acknowleged all points of view, a person of great presence, a great engineer & good friend.

Name: Ian Fox
Position: Engineer: Project Planning Division & Design Division (Head Office), Construction Supervision Engineer (Maroon Dam), Irrigation Design Engineer (Emerald Irrigation Scheme)
Year: 1970-1976
Association: XXXX

Tribute: Any fieldtrip with Tom Fenwick is a highly interesting event, not only because of Tom's phenomenal knowledge of Queensland and the various river basins and schemes under QWRC's administration, but also because of his physical endurance and wry sense of humour. In about 1973 I was invited to join a fieldtrip with Tom and 3 others - all far superior to me in rank.

Having left Brisbane a bit late in the day we arrived, well after nightfall, somewhere near Texas or nearby in the Dumaresq valley. Hotels and restaurants were already closed. Tom decided we should cross into NSW to take advantage of the later closing time. So we headed out along the Bonshaw-Inverell highway and found a pub still lively with a local crowd. The beer was flowing, there was food and the poker machines were spinning. At closing time the manager of the pub locked the entrance, turned off all outside lights, and kept serving. We were being shown some NSW country hospitality, and we greatly enjoyed the conviviality.

About an hour or so after closing time a NSW police car pulled up and there was a knock at the door. The officers strode into the bar and asked which of the persons still present were Queenslanders. Names were taken and I anticipated some difficult discussions - even the possibility of being charged. After a while the pub owner let us know that he had called the police and arranged for them to give us a bit of a scare. It certainly worked in my case. Laughter broke out, the cops sat down with us to enjoy a few beers and it turned into a late night. Tom was ready to go first thing in the morning, as bright as ever.

Name: Bill Meredith
Position: Secretary/Assistant Commissioner/Executive Director Business Services
Year: Pre 1986 until merger with DPI and Forestry
Association: Continual interface at executive level

Tribute: My contact with Tom was only occasional prior to his appointment as Commissioner but we seemed to hit it off very well whenever we did have contact.

Upon Tom's appointment as Commissioner, a certain Engineer discretely phoned me and asked what I thought of Tom. My response was prompt as I said Tom was about people, not just dams, irrigation schemes and works. It was "people" who were the ones going to get things done and Tom was blessed with a wonderful, caring way of harnessing their enthusiasm. He was genuinely interested in people and their aspirations and wellbeing. This leadership style won him immense admiration.

Soon my interaction with Tom was just about daily, more so after Col Taggart retired and I became an Assistant Commissioner. I recall one time he wandered down to my office and nestled into a chair asking "what's this Chart of Accounts?" I assured him it was nothing more than a list of codes used for accounting purposes to ensure all identical income and expenditure was receipted or charged respectively to the same account thus giving us correct totals. He looked relieved as he left my office.

It was a privilege to work beside Tom. He always had an open door and indeed ear to listen and provide valuable input. He had an incredible capacity to deal with so many issues at once.

Whilst we differed occasionally, I was ever so pleased when Tom and I shared the vision that corporate services should be at the interface with its customers i.e. decentralised. Hence in time a decentralised structure could be put in place for corporate services with the customers being staff of all disciplines in the Regional and District Offices.

It was not only within Water Resources that Tom was held in such esteem - something about which many contributors have written. I was with Leo Pitt, Public Service Commissioner, one day and he said to me "You know the Water Resources Commission, under the stewardship of Tom Fenwick, is regarded around here (the Public Services Board) as the most efficient and effective Department in the Public Service." Of course you will not see that published anywhere.

In another demonstration that Tom saw we all deserved a fair go, he invited me to become Chairman of the Gladstone and Area Water Board which is a position usually preserved for an engineer. I accepted. He also asked me to open works in Howard Hobbs's electorate - once again a task usually the preserve of an engineer.

Another policy that Tom and I used to toss around was the belief that "water" and "land" belonged in the same portfolio. As an aside, following the extremely difficult merger of Water Resources, Forestry and the giant DPI, over which Tom and I spent many days anguishing, I found myself out of a job. I was "saved" by Justice Department which then was merged with Attorney Generals and, in a Senior Executive Service swap, finished up in Lands. Yes Lands and Water Resources were later merged together to become the Department of Natural Resources. Tom and I had a chuckle about that.

Tom had a lovely family in Valerie, Matthew and Craig and now somewhat expanded. They must be extremely proud to know how well Tom was regarded.

Thanks Tom you are a special chapter in my life.

Name: Colleen Vanderstay
Position: Daughter of Bill Catling
Year: Around 1967/68
Association: Father worked with Tom at Wuruma Dam

Tribute: Tom worked with my father Bill Catling who was a Senior Works Supervisor with IWS. This was at Wuruma Dam when Tom was a young engineer around 1967/68. I was a high school student at the time and our house was about 150m from his.

Tom sent a personal letter to my mother when my father died in 1990. Tom was Commissioner at the time. My father had retired because of ill health about 7 years earlier after working all of his adult life with the IWS.

The letter meant a great deal to my mother.

Name: Graham Young
Position: Engineer Design and Planning
Year: 1989+
Association: Commission and Department employee

Tribute: Tom Fenwick was a unique man. "His door was always open" for discussions, he was a great listener and always provided well considered advice. Tom knew everybody's name, so had "a knack" of making you feel comfortable and welcomed. A rare and great leader!

My sincere condolences to his wife and family.

Name: Peter Noonan
Position: Various
Year: 1987-1998
Association: Policy and organisational development

Tribute: Tom was one of the great minds of the Australian water industry. He has been credited with turning the organisation (it had many names) from one focussed largely on development to one with a focus on management as well as development. He steered the ship through an incredibly turbulent period and kept us on the front of the wave.

After I came back to Brisbane in 1987, Tom got me involved in the policy side of irrigation area development, particularly with respect to the Burdekin. From then on, I spent many years working for him on a wide range of projects.

He foresaw the macro policy changes which were going to hit the Australian water industry and started a strategic planning process to position the organisation for the way forward. With his trusted Deputy, Peter Bevin, he pushed and prodded until he could see a new direction to ride the wave of change. Not all his senior staff enjoyed that process, but Tom was not deterred. Then when the Public Service Reviews came after the 1989 change of government, the Commission was recognised as being in good shape.

Through these years, Tom worked with the Commissioners from NSW and Victoria, in particular, to look at what changes may be necessary in our industry. They arranged a series of meetings to talk these issues through, and when the Commonwealth Government was developing the 1994 COAG Water Reform Framework, Queensland was able to have significant input to shaping that document.

At this time there were moves for Queensland to join the Murray Darling Agreement, and I assisted Tom in negotiating the terms of our entry. After that was finalised in 1996, there was an endless stream of meetings of the MDB Commission and the Ministerial Council. I don't think Tom ever missed a meeting.

As a flow on from the COAG agreement, it was seen as advantageous to separate the commercial operations of the organisation from the policy and regulatory functions. Tom set up State Water Projects in 1997 and drove a reform agenda which allowed the corporatisation of SunWater in 2000.

Tom was clearly in command, but at the same time he would listen to an alternative point of view. He had a very good sense of the balance between serving a Minister's desires and maintaining the impartiality of the public service.

He enjoyed long distance driving and I was amazed when, after one MDBC meeting, he found his way back to Melbourne airport via Wirra Wirra winery. He didn't need a map!

I was unsettled to hear Tom had passed away as he always seemed to be there as someone I could talk to if I needed it. The world will not be the same without him.

Name: Mal Irwin
Position: Industry, QWRC, DNRM
Year: 1979
Association: Impressed by Tom even before joining Commission

Tribute: Whilst I never worked directly with Tom, his influence was (and clearly remains) widespread.

I first saw Tom Fenwick at the Surat Basin symposium in Toowoomba in 1979 at the height of the first coal boom. With Iran under the Ayatollah, production of oil from coal was a topic of some interest to the mining industry. My recollection of the evening focusses on the talk by the Engineer, Special Projects on water supplies for hydrolising coal to oil, and coal mining in the Surat Basin. Tom concluded by noting that dams on the Dawson River with long pipelines would be necessary. Essentially there was not enough water on the Downs to support the massive requirements and he expressed a doubt that the concept was feasible.

Speakers represented coal exploration interests, this footnote was delivered quite firmly. Back then CSG was an explosive will o' the wisp around drill rigs manned by smokers.

After the coal boom died out I joined QWRC in 1985 and hung on until SunWater was formed. I then reverted to DNRM, the formation of which Tom was probably instrumental in some way. I joined the Extractive Industry team which was formed as an outcome of Integrated Catchment Management. The unit's aim was to locate and protect off-stream sand and rock resources to substitute for instream sand and gravel, rapidly being depleted.

After the "New Age" thinking courses went through the WRC in the late 1980s, I was intrigued to find a small book in the library on the dynamics of group psychology. Inside the cover was a signature T Fenwick ( date ~ 1970s). For my perspective, that showed the extent and depth of Tom's interests in developing communication strategies.

Name: Tony Pressland
Position: Regional Director Natural Resources and Mines
Year: 1989
Association: Came from Department of Primary Industries

Tribute: I remember Tom as DPI DG after Jim Miller. Tom led the departments of Primary Industries - and Natural Resources - through some difficult times. Tom was a larger than life man. He was a strong leader and was also very supportive of his staff. I got to know him in my time as Regional Director NRM.

Name: Howard Briggs
Position: Principal Policy Officer, Strategic Policy Unit, Department of Primary Industries
Year: 1989
Association: Came from Department of Primary Industries

Tribute: While Tom could sometimes appear "bombastic" I enjoyed my association with him regarding:

• The Murray Darling Basin Commission;
• The Planning and Infrastructure Committee and
• My coordination of planning and development applications role.

Name: Terry Loos
Position: Engineer from Local Government Department absorbed into Commission
Year: 1988
Association: Worked under Tom in Water Resources Commission, Department of Primary Industries, and Department of Natural Resources and Mines

Tribute: I appreciated Tom's approachability and his knack of remembering names. He certainly remembered mine - when he had no reason to - I was just a junior officer in a large organisation. Also, his door as DG was always open and he always had time for you. I still remember once walking past his office and just sticky-beaking in when his voice called out, "Ah! Terry come on in, have a seat." He exuded a calm confidence in all matters. I greatly respected the way he was able to work as DG for both side of politics.

Name: Jim Uhlmann
Position: Regional Engineer Darling Downs
Year: 1978
Association: Commission employee

Tribute: Tom was a people person.

When it was proposed that I be transferred from the Bundaberg Design Office to the position of Regional Engineer Darling Downs, Tom rang the District Officer at Warwick, Des Foster, to ensure that the move would not cause family ructions, since Des was my uncle. Both Des and I appreciated Tom's awareness of the situation, his thoughtfulness and the care he had for the well being of staff in and beyond the work environment.

On another occasion, Tom was visiting the Ayr District when he and the District Engineer, Jimmy Ole, were involved in a serious vehicle accident. Jimmy Ole suffered severe head injuries that finished his career path. For himself, Tom was convinced that he had been extremely fortunate not to have been killed or seriously injured. When Jimmy was transferred to Bailey Henderson Psychiatric Ward in Toowoomba for ongoing medical care, Tom asked me to make contact with Jimmy and where possible, in cooperation with the hospital, to include Jimmy in activities of the Regional Office. Tom maintained his concern for Jimmy until Jimmy's death.

Vale Tom Fenwick very much a people person.

Name: Brian Shannon
Position: Deputy General Manager Water Development
Year: 1992-2000
Association: XXXX

Tribute: When I reflect on Tom, I remember how proud I was to be "professionally" led over a period of considerable turmoil. I was proud to be considered a public servant (despite many public jibes) because our Department truly served the common weal.

Tom was truly a man of big ideas. I fondly remember the process of strategic planning which he initiated and served us all well, although we didn't all appreciate it at the time. Then, there was Value Engineering which broke down barriers and challenged established concepts; a prime legacy is the Tom Fenwick pumpstation on the Burdekin River.

My service on the ANCOLD executive, over an extended time, showed me just how progressive Queensland water management became under Tom's guidance - something that my interstate counterparts were grudging to acknowledge.

Finally, I appreciate the enduring purpose that Tom brought to a career that I embraced.

Vale!

Tribute: Tom always supported his regional staff and promoted decision making at the lowest possible level. He was a true leader who developed strategies for big picture water management challenges and was respected by everyone from staff to landholders to politicians from both major political parties.

Name: Richard Steindl
Position: Engineer in the Local Government Engineering Section
Year: 1992-2002
Association: XXXX

Tribute: I first became aware of Tom's existence when I joined the Brisbane Grammar School Army Cadets, Tom was one of the big boys.

In 1971 I joined W J Reinhold and Partners Consulting Engineers. That firm was Tom's father's business. Tom joined the firm for a short time before returning to the Queensland Water Resources Commission. One of my memories with Tom was a trip to the proposed coal mines north of Moura. We had a bit of an adventure looking around the proposed mine sites including a precarious crossing of the Suttor River in a short wheel based Toyota Landcruiser, got into the river on one side and had trouble getting out the other. We messed at one of the investigation camps in the area and from memory we had roast black duck for dinner. On the same trip we spent some time in Mackay and visited one of the pubs. Tom, Charlie Chalmers, (I think it was but may be Ian) and I were sitting on stools and I went away for some reason and when I returned a fellow was trying to beat me to my stool, Tom stood up and the intruder retreated, just shows that size does matter.

After retiring from Reinholds I joined the Water Resources Commission, DPI and NRM before going to SunWater. One of my most stressful meetings with Tom was looking for addition funds for the Palm Island Dam that was severely over budget. At a flick of his hand Tom made the funds available, I was pleasantly surprised and relieved.

One of Tom's great achievements was serving both sides of politics with distinction.

Tom was very good to me over this period and Dorothy I and all his friends will miss him dearly.

I extend my condolences to Val, Matthew, Craig and other members of his family.

TDF rest in peace.

Name: Bob McDonald
Position: Executive Officer (Program Management), Principal technical Officer (Drafting, Designs)
Year: 1987-1998
Association: XXXX

Tribute: After over twenty years retirement, I can still vividly recall conversing with Tom in his Mineral House office, after first ensuring that Jan approved that all was well for a meeting. To have a work discussion with Tom was not something the middle/lower ranks did every day, but he was always welcoming and you never felt that he wanted you to leave. I think we were all fortunate to have such a good leader. Sadly missed.

Name: Ged Brennan
Position: District Engineer Charleville District
Year: 1990-1993
Association: XXXX

Tribute: For the last few years until the end of the Water Resources Commission, I was the last District Engineer for the South-west and the most junior of all the District Engineers in the State. Perhaps that meant I needed the most watching! While I had commenced as a cadet engineer, it was only during this period that I personally met Tom.

During a number of meetings of District and our Regional Engineers, I had met Tom only briefly and but more personally on notable visits to Mineral House when summoned to the Commissioner's Office. While these visits at Tom's request were brief and only to check up how the staff in Charleville were fairing, I still marvel at Tom's interest in and knowledge of the people of his organisation - individuals he had met at all levels and in all roles. On the few occasions when Tom phoned, the office would be silent while I took his call such was the respect for the big man. I can recall the reason for one particular call which was to share some personal advice on project supervision as I was commencing Cunnamulla Weir construction. Tom has left a lasting impression upon my engineering career.

My last personal meeting with Tom was in 1993 when he visited Charleville during his leadership of DPI. I invited Tom for coffee after dinner and he visited the Commission house in King St and spent an hour talking to me about a great range of technical subjects from power generation in Birdsville to water harvesting. I worked for 10 years in the organisation and do not recall anyone speak of Tom Fenwick with other than the greatest respect. In my opinion, the strength of his leadership provided a sense of confidence throughout the organisation. The qualities shared by so many contributors in the testimonials to Tom are not common in senior public servants today. Tom was a mentor of many at a time that the term was not in common use. I had hoped to have the opportunity to meet Tom Fenwick again and was saddened to hear of his passing - we have lost a great man and a great engineer.

Name: XXXX
Position: XXXX
Year: NNNN
Association: XXXX

Tribute: XXXX